Cap-lifting bottle opener



April 27, 1948. i c, RANSEEN 2,440,485

CAP-LIFTING BOTTLE OPENER Filed March 11, 1944 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 I5 I 1111:3011, I I 8 EV I JVVENTOE AI/E172 CI Bmvsszzv Patented Apr. 27, 1948 UNITED (iii-FEE invenfion 'releit's to newgnwmsemp provements in bottle openers" ofthe*genfami lfi commoiilyf'used for-removing ci'oWI-I desire-taps ffomhottl'es" andbthefcontainersuiiilizin siieh on the cap whereby the hook may chi the tione oft *tli 'caibj'thfnib of th 1 ,51;

device comprising a hook adapted to engage the bottom edge of a cap, and also having a fulcrum point adapted to engage the top of the closure cap adjacent one side thereof, and means being provided in conjunction with the fulcrum point for causing the fulcrum point to gradually move outwardly towards the edge of the cap, after the hook element has engaged the edge of the cap, following the application of pressure to the lever to remove the cap, thereby expediting the operation of releasing or removing the cap from the bottle top.

A further object is to provide a cap remover comprising an operating handle provided with a resilient hook element adapted to engage the bottom edge of the cap flange, and whereby dur-' ing the operation of removing a cap from a bottle, the nib of the hook may freely follow the contour of the bottle against the resiliency'of the hook element without danger of damaging the bottle top.

The important object of the present invention, therefore, is to provide a cap remover in which all of the objectionable features now present in such devices have been eliminated, whereby a very efficient and practical device of this general type is provided.

Other objects of the invention will appear from the following description and the accompanying drawings and will be pointed out in the annexed claim.

In the accompanying drawings there has been disclosed a structure designed to carry out the various objects of the invention, but it is to be understood that the invention is not confined to the exact features shown, as various changes may be made within the scope of the claim which follows.

In the drawings;

Figure 1 is a side view of my improved device, showing it in position to unseat a bottle cap;

Figure 2 is a top view of Figure 1, partially broken away;

Figure 3 is a view similar to Figure 1 but showing the device operated to unseat the cap;

Figure 4 is an enlarged detail sectional view on the lined-e4 of Figure 1;

Figure 5 is an enlarged detail sectional view on the line 55 of Figure 6;

Figure 6 is a view showing the initial step in applying the device to a bottle cap; 7

- Figure '7 is a view similar to Figure 6, but showing the device tilted forwardly and the hook about to engage the botom edge of the cap; I

Figure 8 is a view showing how the cap may be retained in the device after having been removed from the bottle;

Figure 9 is a view showing the hook of slightly different construction;

Figure 10 is aside elevation of a device having a hook element formed of spring metal;

Figure 11 is a side elevation of a device having a spring-actuated pivoted hook;

Figure 12 is a top view of Figure 11, partially broken away; I

Figure 13 is a side elevation of a cap removing device embodying a slightly different design;

Figure 14 is a view showing how the device of Figure 13 may be quickly applied to a bottle cap;

Figure 15 is a fragmentary view showing a hook element similar to the one illustrated in Figure 14, but wherein the hook element is provided with a spring for constantly urging it in one direction;

and I I Figure 16 is a view showing Ia cap remover comprising a member adapted to engage the neck of the bottle below the cap in the operation of unseating the cap. 7

In the selected embodiment of the invention erally designated by the numeral 5, having a grip portion 6 whereby the lever may be conveniently grasped in the operation of unseating a cap from a bottle. A downwardly extending integral abutment 1 is provided on the lever member 5 adapted to engage one side of the cap 4. A ledge 8 may be provided beneath the abutment I to facilitate properly positioning the device on the bottle cap. as shown in Figure 6.

The lever 5 has a forwardly extending body portion II adapted to be positioned over the top of the bottle cap, as shown in Figure 1. The bottom edge of the body portion I I is shown provided with a rounded fulcrum portion or'proj'ection I2 adapted to engage the top of the bottlecap I to provide a fulcrum for the lever 5, when the device is manipulated to remove the cap.

A depending hook element, generally designated by the numeral I5, is pivotally mounted upon the reduced end portion I6 of the body portion I I by means of a pivot pin II. The hook element I5 may be of channel cr0ss-secti0n,.as shown in Figure whereby the opposed flanges I8 may embrace the reduced end portion I6 of the body portion II. By reducing the end portion I6, as shown in Figures 2 and 4; shoulders I9 are provided against which the flanges I8 of the hook I5 may engage, and whereby the pivotal movement of the hook I5 is limited, as will subsequently be described.

The pivot pin II, as shown in Figures 4 and 5, provides a spacer for the flanges I8 whereby the space between the flanges may be made a trifle greater than the thickness of the reduced end portion I6, thereby to prevent anybinding action between the flanges I8 and the side walls of the end portion I6. The aperture through the end portion I6 is also of such size as to allow free pivotal movement of the pivot pin I'I therein. The hook element extends downwardly from the end portion I8 and the lower portions of the flanges I8 arecut away to provide nib portions 2|, as shown, adapted to engage beneath the flange of the cap at points substantially diametrically opposite from the abutment I, when the device is positioned on the bottle'cap, as shown in Figure 1. V a

Means is preferably provided for constantly urging the nibs 2| of the hook memberIS in a direction towards the abutment I, to assure that the nibs 2| will properly engage the flange of the cap, each time the device is positioned upon a cap to remove it from the bottle. As best shown in Figure 5, one of the flanges I8 may have a bent-over portion 22 spanning the two flanges over the top of the end portion l6. Oneend of a suitable spring element 24 isshown secured to the portion 22 of the book by suitable means such as a rivet 25. The otherendZ'I of the spring elementfi engages the upper surface of the lever 5', and is preferably seated in a channel 26 provided in the lever, as clearly shown in aac aee Figures-192 mm The spring elcment fl serves dii 'tifirl twards 51 115 abutr'nnt i; as hereinbefdre stated; The side-"avails 28 defi ing the channel ZG pi otct tHe spPl-h'g 24 fi'om damage 'when the dviee s'noautuse;as will be undei" s'tood by ref-'- erenseto-eigur'ea Td remeve a cap from a bottle with the noveldevice h'z ein dis'lsed, the ledge 84s fii s't'en'gaged *with the bottom edge oi the cap-nan e, 'asishown manicure '6:- he operating-handle" E is-then swung upwardly as indieated by the arrow 30,

humane positidn showii-inFigur-e fi to that' shownbe understood{that the spacing between the ledge S- and mb's 21 -of the hooki -when the-latter is in its normalposition asshown in Figure l 6, is constant asa result of' theflange l8 engaging the shoulders I 9 against the tension of thespring- 24:

Whom the nibs ofthe hook! 5 have subsequentlyibeen movedinto 'o'perati ve engagement with the cap fian'ge',---as shown in Figure 1, a-downward pressure is extertd on thehandle 6 whereby the bed? nortiom-l Phi the-device will fulcrum on'the top of the cap at the point indicated by-the-arrow 35i sueh fultirumingaction of the device 'on mamas will cause the nibs Z Hto engage-the bottom edge of the ea -flange with a lifting action, and thereby release-thecap from-'the-bottle top as 'shown iri' "Figure SJ When-the cap has --been cdmpletely "releasedi fronri the bead =3 on the bottIe,-*-iti *may bebodily rem'ovedfrom the bottle by the device as a result of the spring 24', which will cause the hook! 5 to cooperate'with the ledge 8 td 'grip the released capi-as-shown in Figure 8. Fiom the ioregoing= it= will' be noted that the ledge 8 serves as a guide to facilitate quickly placing the device in: proper-position on the cap, anti aiso as-a means for-engaging one side of the cap: when: the -latter 'has been removed from the bottle? 'Ihe shoulders ldon the forward portion of maneuver thedevice retalnthenibs-L'l at'a pre dete'rmined distance' -from the abutment 1," whereb' the nibs -will properly engage the 3 cap flange when th'e device istilted-forwardly, as above described? Thespringfl servesa dual function in that it causes the hook to quickly snap into operative engagement with the bottom edge of the capy when-"the deviceis a tilted forwardly to a pre-determined position, and, in addition, it causes-thehook and ledge 8 to grip the cap with sufliclent tens-ion to retain-the device inoperative position onthe'unreleased cap, as shown in Figure-1, if desired 'l'helocatibn offithe fulcrum pointl2 on the thaw Fof the devioe-is important, as it provides a moving' fulc'rum point' for the lever when the lever is swun'g' "downwardly from the" position shown in Figure l to that-shown in Figure 3. This results becauseof therolling action of the fuldrum point l2 upon the top of the cap, which tends" to-ur'ge the hook member more tightly into engagement w-itltthe fiangeof the cap and also IaJciIitatesthe operation of removing the cap. Diiring thwo'ckin'g movement of the body H omi -the fiilcrum IZEthenibs 2| will follow" the contdui 'of the bead {3 because *of the pivotal cenlie'ction of the hoo'lt 5: with" the body l l,= re- 6 gardless' of f the rolling aetion of tnesb'ody- Ii on the'ifulcrum pointd2.

This 'a'ction is contraryto: the aCfiOn Of C0H-i ventional' cap removers -which -m'ay be designed to "fulcruin son top of' the cap, a but wherein the hook member is secured to the body of the device in -fixed relation. In such conventional cap removersy the nibs engagihg ber'ie'ath the flange it)? the cap, and assuming-the operating 'han'tlle" ful crums at substantially the point indicated by the arrow35 in Figure 1, will tend' to follow-anarc such -as-iridi'cated by the' brohenlinetl niFi'g-ure 1 This areit will be noted-- cutsthrougl-Ythe bead of the botle top, and as the nibs- ZII must follow the contour of the head; it Will be seen that the portion ofthe ope'r-atihg h'andlewhich fulcrumson the bottle cap, instead of rolling in a direction -towards=the right, when viewed' as show-n 'in Figure l, is frictionallymoved in the opposite-direction or towards'the left, because of the nibs'following-the contour otthebhttl head. This isan objectionable feature irr con ventional Jcap removers because it i exerts" severe strains on: the beadand mayresult in' chippihg or breakingthe bead, andthereby render" the bottle unfit for further use;

In the structure herein disclosed; the rounded fulcrum por-tion i2 0? the 'body which-engages the top of the cap 'is freeto roll in a-direction' towards the right without' fri-ction, when 'thf'e'han dle -is-forced downwardly to remove the cap-be cause of the pivotal connection-cr me"hook i5 with the body l I; which permits the nibs or the hookto readily follow-the' contour of the bottle neck 'witho'ut causing undue friction between the body and cap' at the point 35 where the body fulorums cn-the cap;

Another "important feature of the-invention resides in the provision of means for-assisting the rolling 'action of-the-fulcrum point 52 on the bedy I I a direction towards theright of -the arrow 35, as the device is manipulatedto remove a cap, whereby'-thelifting-action of the ho0k-l5 against the-under side of 'the cap flange is'ex pedited; As shown in Figure 1, the wall iil 'of Qfthe'abutment-T, which engages against the cap 4, is -inclined with I respect 1 to the vertical axis of the bottle so asto provide a camming surface.

Reterring to Figure 1, it will be noted that as the handle-6 is-moved downwardly, the inclined wall In of the abutment 7 engages the upper edge' and side 0fthecap 7 t, and "thereby causes the bodyll of the' device' to move in adirection tdw'ard's the right-of the-arrow 35, when viewed asz'shown-inFigure 1, which movement is -sub stantiallyequal to the nor-mal rolling action of the fulcrum 'poin't lz on the" cap t. Thus the cani'ming action of the abutment wall it against the-sideof the cap hastens the normal rolling actionwf the'fulcrum' point Win a direction directly oppositeto the outward movement of the nibs 2 I which expedites the'lifting action of the hook -i5-asthe-lever5 is swung downwardly in the operation of removing the cap;

The device-illustrated in'Figures' 1 to 8, iiichis-iVe; isshown provided with a pivoted hook having-aspring constantly urging it in a directi'on towardsthe abutment l; This'is a desir able feature in that the device may function as hereinbefore described, with the bottle held in any position; However, it is tobe noted that when the device is applied "to bottle supported in an upri'ghtpositiong thespring 24may be dispens'e'd wi-th, if desired; whereby the 'hoohwill be pehdantly I supported from its pivot l I for free swinging movement within fixed'limits. In such a device the hook will assume its relative positions with respect to the abutmentv by means of gravity, due to the position of the pivot pin H, as will be apparent by reference to the drawings.

Obviously, the device may be applied to a bottle cap in other ways than is above described. For example, the nibs 2| of the hook l may first be engaged beneath the flange of the bottle cap while holding the device over the cap. The fulcrum point I2 and the abutment 1 may then be moved into engagement with the top and side of the cap, respectively, as shown in Figure 1, after which a simple downward movement of the lever will remove the cap, as hereinbefore described.

The device may also be applied to the bottle cap by moving it into engagement with the cap in such a manner that the nibs 2| of the hook l5 and the cam surface ID of the abutment 1 simultaneously engage opposite side edges of the cap 4, whereby the cap, which is relatively larger in diameter than the normal spacing between the nibs 2| and the abutment i, will cam the nibs outwardly against the tension of the spring 24, until they subsequently snap into operative engagement with the bottom edge of the cap, the abutment wall l0 simultaneously engaging the cap at its opposite side as shown in Figure 1. The device may then be operated in the manner shown and described with reference to Figures 1 to 8, inclusive.

The device illustrated in Figure 9 is shown provided with a hook member 45 mounted for free pivotal movement on a pivot pin 45 provided in the terminal portion 42 of the lever member 5. The hook 40 is shown provided with spaced flanges 43 whose lower portions are cut away to provide nib portions 46, as shown. The end of the terminal portion 42 is formed to provide angularly disposed surfaces 41 and 48 which provide limit stops for the pivotal or swinging movement of the hook member 40, as will be understood. Thus the hook 40 has a limited pivotal movement with relation to the abutment 1, which as hereinbefore stated, is an important feature of the invention. The device illustrated in Figure 9 is operated in a manner very similar to the structure shown in Figure 1, and further explanation thereof is therefore deemed unnecessary.

The cap removing device shown in Figure 10 utilizes a resilient hook member 50 which may be secured to the terminal portion 5| of the lever member 5 in fixed relation thereto. The upper end of the terminal portion 5| is recessed at 52 to receive the bent-over end portion 53 of the hook 50 and a retaining piece 54. A fastening screw 55 traverses the retaining piece 54 and end 53. of the hook 50 and is threaded into the terminal portion 5| of the handle, whereby the hook is firmly secured in place as will be understood. The hook 50 has a blade portion 51 which is normally retained against the end wall 58 of the terminal portion 5| by the spring tension in the blade portion 51 of the hook. The bentover side walls of the hook 50 provide stiffening means therefor, and may be cut away to provide nib portions 59.

As above stated, the resilience of the blade 51 normally maintains the hook 50 against the end wall 58 of the terminal portion 5|, whereby the nibs 59 are normally maintained at a predetermined distance from the abutment l. The device maybe applied to a bottle cap in a manner simi- 8 lar to thatdescribed with reference to Figures 1 to 8. The resiliency of the blade member. 5'! constantly urges the nibs 59 in a direction toward the abutment during the operation of removing, a cap from a bottle, but allows the nibs to move in a direction away from the fulcrum point l2 and the abutment I, as indicated in dotted lines, as the nibs follow the contour of the bottle neck.

The retaining piece 54 preferably has a depending lip or flange 55 which engages against the blade 51 adjacent the bent-over portion, 53, thereby preventing fracture of the hook member at the bend line, when the blade 51 is flexed as the nibs 59 move outwardly in following the contour of the bottle during the operation of removing the cap. v

Figures 11 and 12 illustrate a cap removing device comprising a lever portion 60 having a handle 6|. A hook B2 is pivoted to the forward end of the lever portion 60 by a pivot pin 64, and a spring element '63 constantly urges the hook in a counter-clockwise direction, when viewed as shown in Figure 11. The tension in the spring element 63 is such as to normally retain the hook 52 in the position shown in Figure 11 relative to the handle 6|, whereby the hook 62 may be initially engaged beneath the cap flange as shown. The lever portion 60 may then be moved downwardly into engagement with the top surface of the cap without disturbing the relationship between the hook and the lever portion 60 The lever portion 60 may be formed with a slightly upwardly inclined portion 65 to provide a fulcrum 55. The end portion 66 of the upwardly inclined lever portion 55 is laterallyoffset to form a shoulder 61 which provides a limit stop for the swinging movement of the hook 62 on the pivot pin 65, as will be clearly understood by reference toFigure 11. The offset end portion 56 is apertured to receive the reduced end portion of the shouldered pivot pin 64, which is headed over as shown to secure the pivot pin to. the end portion 65.

The hook 52 is held against lateralmovement on the pin 54 by the spring 63,;which is shown having one end passing through an aperture in the pin 54 and its opposite end looped around the edge of the hook 62, whereby the tension of the spring imparts a counterclockwise force to the hook about the axis of the pivot pin 64. It will also be noted by reference to Figure 12, that the hook 62 is located in the median plane of the lever portion 60, thereby to centralize in the handle 5|, the force exerted against the cap in the operation of releasing or removing it from the bottle top.

The device shown in Figures 11 and 12 fulcrums freely upon the top surface of the cap, and the nib of the hook E2 is adapted to move in a direction away from the fulcrum point 65' during the operation of removing the cap, whereby friction between the fulcrum 65' and the top of the cap is entirely eliminated, thus providing a cap removing device of high efiiciency and which is very simple and easy to operate.

Figures 13 and 14 illustrate a cap removing device comprising a body portion 70 provided with a downwardly extending handle 'll normally spaced outwardly from the neck of the bottle as shown in Figure 14, whereby the handle may-be operated to unseat a bottle cap by gripping the neck of the bottle and the handle 1| and applying a squeezing action thereto, as illustrated in Figure 13. The body portion 10 extends diametrrioallyzzzoyerzthe top 'lOfLl'lhGi'ibOttlB cap :dmandwis ;;providcd :a rounded ;fulcrum portion :13

adaptedaito engages the stop of the cap iiaindlfulcrum thereon, ewhenrthe handlex ill wiszactuate'd torreleaset the Jca'p.

At the junction between the body portion and handle i; thereds provided a downwardly inclined abutment surface 14,- similar to, the =00!- responding abutment surface shown in the previous figures. gage the'side ofthe-cap adjacent the fulcrum point :13, when the device-is in cap removing position on: thehotfle, a h wniin i ure i l i'li'hc forward end of the shod-y p tion 1 i ured:-. to:receiveapnm .nin ilfinn whi h .suit- .ble shook 'ETLiS. D Ql1 l1/rlmQU-I1ted. :IheihOO i7] whichzmayi. beformed. ofrflatystockemateri iis-irpositioned ,betweenwthegspaced lu s? 'tlihe ispacingsbetweenNtherJugs l5; isasliehtlytgreater .than ;the -.thickness eoiltherhook'zli, thereby to eliminate iiri-ction between the. .vhook :..and lu fiffhe tend ofzithehookll adiacentzthe pili0t316 is 'fformed. sotas .tolprovideflat surfaces itiands'la iadaptedato aengagethebottomicwall ofvthei-fork eprovidedtlbyt the. lugs. 15,, thereb to limit-Li thei rotative movementofthe hookabout the pivot pin 16, as will be understood by reference to Figures 13 arid 'l l.

:toizkedwtorproyide spaced lug 5-;1Which; areiape The surface Hi is adapted to encm 'i-I'he -h'ook 'l1-isshow-n provided With a -nib 88 mo adapted to engage beneath the flange of the cap 4, as shown in Figure 13, substantially diametrically opposite from where the abutment surface 14 engages the bottle cap, whereby when the handle is moved in a direction toward the bottle, the cap will be released from the bottle top.

A ledge 82 is provided beneath the abutment or cam surface 14, adapted to engage the flange of the cap as shown and described with reference to the previous figures, and whereby the cap may be retained in the device between the hook 17 and the abutment surface E4 of the handle 1|, when the cap has been completely removed from the bottle top.

Figure 14 illustrates one method of applying the device to the cap, wherein the device is moved downwardly in the direction of the arrow 84 until the fulcrum '53 engages the top of the bottle cap and the abutment the side of the cap. During such downward movement of the device relative to the cap, the nib 88 of the hook will engage the opposite top edge of the cap, whereupon the hook will be cammed outwardly and thereby swing the book about its pivot 16, until the nib subsequently drops into operative engagement with the bottom edge of the cap, as shown in Figure 13.

Figure 15 illustrates a modified structure of hook assembly which may be utilized with the device illustrated in Figures 13 and 14. In the structure shown in Figure 15, 'a compression spring 85 is loosely mounted in a bore-or socket 86 provided in the bottom of the fork 'formed by the spaced lugs 15 of the forward end of the body portion 18. One end of the spring 85 engages the surface 19 of the hook 11, whereby the spring 85 yieldably retains the hook H in the position shown in Figure 15, with its edge portion 18 engaging the bottom of the fork. By the employment of the spring 85, the device may be used for removing a cap from a bottle, regardless of the position of the bottle. The spring 85 also provides means whereby the device may be retained in operative position on a bottle cap prior to removing the cap from the bottle.

iiinifhigure lfiithereeiseillustratedzia :bottle reap rremovericompuisingr =supportingcmembemgenecrallysdesignatedeby ithe numeral: 198,: includin tspacedalegsziil lsand 3. The; leg 59 his .adaptedrto iexten'd coyertithe top sof -:the 2 bottle wcapsandyits end portioneliz iis it formed :Lto :provide; an abut- :ment which zengagesz the stop and, side :of ;the

bottle cap, as shown. The other leg 9 3: is1arranged to engage the .sideiiofithefubottlezyneck 2, sands-cooperates withithelileg 9| :torsupportithe member-24f8thin:operativexpositiontupon;theibottle. Al-suitable ihandle 694 isvprovide'd on the member- 100.

'Anrinwardly idirected 'fdetent r99 is 1 preferably jprovi'dedsonitthe end portion iBZnOfrth'e legn9l=to *facilitatei supporting thezimember 108 iupon the :bottle and alsoewlherebywthe :removed. capsm'ay bewretaineduin-cztheccap .removenras well;:subse- -quentlybeidescnibed.

nAna importantiffeature :of their device 1 shown in :Eigure i160 resides tin: :the. :means. providcdxon the supporting member 3 I88 forsengaging rid .unseatingtthe-zbottlercapr from the to lcfi the? bottle -withsarminimum :of =efiort. .TOK thus unseat the reap ear lever 8811s mounted;forspivotalsanovement -on azpiuotrpint89 secured .inthesupportingpmemwber 1.90. :Therlerer 88id'iasazatf0rwardly;extenddngi portion i. tozthezrterminaliof whichearresi'lientrhoold 96. .is securedxby such'imeans-ias a;-screw .iortriyetwfl. oTheg hookidependsiifrom the: terminal of the portion 95 of the lever 88, and has a nib 97 at its lower end adapted to engage the bottom edge of the bottle cap, as clearly illustrated in Figure 16. The hook 96, which may be made of flat spring steel is so shapecl that its nib 91 will normally be positioned beneath the cap edge, as shown.

Thus, when the lever 88 is swung downwardly about the pivot 89 in the direction of the arrow 98, the hook 96 may engage the cap flange and its nib 91 will engage and follow the contour of the bottle due to the resiliency of the hook 99, unti1 it subsequently engages the cap flange, whereupon the cap may readily be lifted from its seat by applying a squeezing action to the lever 88 and handle 94. During such action, the end portion 92 of the leg 9| engages the top and side of the cap whereby the reactive force of the lever 88 is applied to the top and side of the bottle cap by the leg 9|, and also to the side of the bottle by the leg 93 of the supporting member I88.

It will thus be noted that in the cap removing device shown in Figure 16, the nib 91 of the hook 96 may engage and follow the contour of the bottle without disturbing the relative position of the fulcrum point 89 of the lever 88 with relation to the cap, and also that the relationship between the fulcrum point 89 and the abutment 92 remains constant, even though the hook 98 may be flexed as a result of its Mb 91 engaging and following the contour of the bottle top.

The inwardly projecting detent 99, provided on the end portion 92 of the lever 9|, provides a dual function in that it facilitates supporting the bottle opener in operative position on the bottle top, and it also makes it possible to retain the released cap in the bottle opener in a manner similar to the structure illustrated in Figure 8, the detent 99 cooperating with the hook 99 to grasp the cap therebetween.

It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that I have accomplished at least the principal objects of my invention, and it will also be apparent to those skilled in the art that the embodiments herein described may be variously changed and modified without departing from the spirit of the invention, and'that the invention is capable of uses and has advantages not herein specifically described; hence it will be appreciated that the herein disclosed embodiments are illustrative only, and that my invention is not limited thereto.

I claim as my invention:

A bottle opener comprising a body having one edge provided with a projection constituting a fulcrum and adapted to seat upon a bottle cap adjacent to one side thereof, a hook pivoted tothe end of said body remote from the fulcrum and depending from said end of the body and having an upturned nib adapted to engage under the edge of the bottle cap, the opposite end of said body being formed with an abutment adapted to engage the side of the cap adjacent to said fulcrum, when the opener is applied to the cap, an operating handle extending downwardly from said abutment and body and positioned adjacent to the neck of the bottlewhereby the operator may conveniently grasp the neck of the bottle and said handle with one hand and operate the opener to release the cap by a squeezing action,and means constantly urging the hook into cap' engaging position whereby the opener may be quickly applied to the bottle cap by simply moving it straight downwardly into engagement 12 with the top of the cap,'such manipulation 'of the opener causing the nib of the hook and said abutment to automatically assume their operative positions with respect to the cap.

MAURITZ C. RANSEEN.

. REFERENCES CITED The following references are ofrecord in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 61,161 Church Jan. 15, 1867 275,588 Church Apr. 10, 1883 288,927 Crowther Nov. 20, 1883 769,650 Harrison Sept. 6, 1904 941,865 Forsyth et a1. Nov. 30, 1909 952,827 Martin Mar, 22,1910 1,005,213 Hinds Oct. 10, 1911 1,204,305 Nagy -1 -1; Nov. 7, 1916 1,507,277 Dunlap Sept. 2, 1924 1,610,158 Roberts Dec. 7, 1926 1,728,418 Litchfield Sept. 17, 1929 2,155,947 Low Apr. 25, 1939 2,205,152 Pearson June 18, 1940 r 2,210,904 Durant Aug. 13, 1940 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 3,502 Denmark Oct. 19, 1925 

